Tampa man accused of stabbing 6-year-old son found incompetent

TAMPA —A Tampa father accused of stabbing his 6-year-old son more than 20 times at a family New Year's Eve celebration was ruled incompetent to stand trial and ordered to a state psychiatric hospital Thursday.

Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Chet Tharpe issued the order for Xavier Thomas, 23. Moments before, bailiffs had removed Thomas from the courtroom after he began shouting. Family members have said he is mentally ill.

The boy, Xavier Jr., survived wounds to the back, chest, neck and arms.

Authorities allege that Thomas took the child away from the party at an apartment complex and stabbed him. He then threw the bloody child over a 6-foot fence into a wooded area. The boy managed to stagger back to the party drenched in blood.